Mitchell Layton/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Syracuse's sophomore big man DaJuan Coleman will miss the rest of the season with a left leg injury that will require surgery.

"This is a tremendous disappointment, especially considering the amount of hard work DaJuan has been putting in with our basketball team," Boeheim said in a statement released by the school. "We will certainly miss his contributions."

The 6-foot-9, 280-pound Coleman started the Orange's first 12 games of the season, but a lingering knee injury has allowed Coleman to only play nine minutes since Dec. 20.

Syracuse (18-0) is ranked second in the country and is one of only three undefeated teams left -- the others are Arizona and Wichita State.

While Coleman is the beefiest of the Syracuse big men, the Orange do have some guys with size who should be able to handle the sophomore's absence.

The 6-foot-9, 250-pound Rakeem Christmas and the 6-foot-10, 220-pound Baye-Moussa Keita are both capable of taking control in front of the net with Coleman out.